Traction tire



A ril 11, 1939. N. c. CUDDEBACK ETAL I 2,154,035

TRACT ION T IRE Filed Oct. 2, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l A ril 11, 1939. c. UUDDEBACK El AL I 2,154,035

TRACTION TIRE Filed Oct. 2, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 11, 1939. N. c. CUDDEBACK Er AL 2,154,035

TRACTION TIRE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1936 APril 1 N. c. CUDDEBACK ET AL 2,154,035

TRACTION TIRE I Filed Oct. 2, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill Patented Apr. 11; 1939- PATENT OFFICE amass TRACTION 'rnu: v .ielaon c. Guidebook, Chicago, and am a.

.Oakl'arhlll,

aaaignors to Intera on o! Application October 2, mo, Serial No. 103,738

' 40mm. (cam-4o)- This invention relates to wheels for selfpropelled vehicles with more particular reference to wheels in connection with what is known as traction tires or rims provided with traction'tires that may l e-quickly and readily substituted for the ordinary pneumatic or other cushion tires.

' used in connection with road, tractor, or pleasure vehicles or for the rims for which said tires are mounted on wheels of the demountable rim type.

, It is well known that air tires for use with tractors of the general purpose type are coming more and more into general usage. Nevertheless at times it is necmsary to provide increased traction,especially in muddy conditions or in icy conditions, which the usual tractor air tire is not able tofurnish.

It is the primary object of this invention toprovide simple and efllcient means for the interchangeability from the regular air tire for a tractor to the usual traction lug type of steel tire or vice versa.

Another object of the invention is to provide vehicles, especially motor trucks, with additional traction means in the form 01' lug wheels wherein increased traction may be had in snow or mud.

Another object'is to provide means for mounting a steel traction wheel so as to interchange with an ordinary dual air tire construction.

Another object is to provide means whereby the steel traction tires may be interchanged with the usual tractor air'tires 'and held in place by the ordinary quick detachable clamp.

Another object is to provide a special mounting whereby varioustypes of lugs may be attach to the steel traction tire. r

Another object ofthe invention is to provide steel rims of various shapes which are interchangeable with the usual tractor air tire.

Another object-is to provide means for mountin; extension rims on this new type of demountable steel tire.

Another object is to provide means for mounting of extensionrims to the traction lugs.

Another object is to provide supporting means for the steel traction tire with an attachable portion conforming to the usual well of the rim of the traction tires.

Another object is to provide a safety wheel in case of punctures.

'I'he'foregoing and other objects which will be evident to those skilled in the art are attained by the structure hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated; in the accompanying drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 shows an ordinary tractor of'the general purpose type having demountable air tires;

Figure 2 shows the tractor in Figure l with the air tires removed and having the new demountable steel traction rims; I

Figure 3 is a cross section along line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the shape of the well of the demountable rim and an air-tire;

Figure 4 is a section through 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the means for mounting the detachable steel rim in place of the detachable air tire and rim;

Figure 5 shows a modification of the steel tire in Figure 2 using cast lugs in place of angle iron lugs;

Figure 6 is a section on line 8-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the shape of the cast lug and its attaching portion for attaching to the spider of the tractor;

Figure '7 shows a steel traction wheel similar to that in Figure 2, but provided with an attaching lug wherein the steel rim may be mounted in any one ofrfour positions;

Figure 8 is a modification of a steel traction rim having the usual fiat tire;

Figure 9 is a side View of the in Figure 8; a

Figure 10 shows a steel traction tire attached to one of the drive wheels of a four-wheel drive truck with the steel traction tire replacing an air tire;

Figure 11 is a section along line "-1! of FigurelO showing a dual wheel with air tires with one of the air tires replaced by the steel traction tire;

Figure 12 is a modification of the self-cleaning steel wheel, as shown in Figure 4, showing means for attaching extension rims;

Figure 13 is a. modification of the steel traction rim, as shown in Figures 4 and 12 provided with lugs having means for attaching extension rims;

Figure 14 is a side view of Figure 12 showing traction tire shown the extension tires and traction lugs;

Figure 15 is a top view of the steel traction tire shown in Figures 12 and 14 with the extension tires and traction lugs in place;

Figure 16 is a side view of a portion of Figure 13 showing the mounting of an extension rim to a traction lug; and,

Figure 1'! is a top view of the steel traction tire shown. in Figures 13 and 16 with the extension tires and traction lugs in place.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a tractor or the general purpose type having the usual rear axle housing from which differentially driven axle shafts 2| project. The shafts 20 have traction wheels 2| adjustably secured the tire and rim being mounted upon the wheel 2| by means of clamps 28 and clampbolts and 1! nuts 29. As the wheels on a tractor of the wide tread type are so made as topermit changing of the wheel tread by taking the wheel of! and tuming it about; the wheel 2| is, therefore, so made that the rim 21 may be demountable from either 20 side, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 illustrates the main object of our invention which is to provide a steel traction rim having the same driving radius as that of an air tire and at the same time to provide means as whereby the steel traction tire may be interchanged for the air tire or the air tire changed for the steel tire depending upon conditions. As the price of'air tires is very great, the tractors are generally shipped with the usual steel tires 30 and lugs. Therefore, with our invention it is possible to interchange at will from steel tires to air tires or vice versa. It is also obvious that during certain periods, it is necessary to provide the air tires with increased traction means such 35 as tire chains. However, with our invention, it

is possible to substitute for the air tires the detachable steel rim and traction lugs for practically the same cost that would be necessary for traction chains or other devices for increasing the traction of air tires. In addition to this cheap demountable traction rim, greater trac- .tion can be provided than with the ordinary tire chains. In fact with the detachable traction rim the same traction can be secured as one 45 would secure with the old style steel wheel and traction lugs.

In-the demountable traction steel tire, as shown in Figure 2, this type of rim is known as a spade lug type and is in the form of a self-cleaning 50 wheel. This type is old in the tractor art, but has been adapted into a detachable rim-t be interchanged with the ordinary air tire for tractors. This demountable rim comprises a rim rolled so that the width of the stock is edgewise 55 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. This edge rolled rim or traction lug supporting means 30 has arranged about its circumference a plurality of radially and inwardly projecting supports 3| which are equally spaced about the rim, as shown in 60 Figure 2 and are positioned to correspond with the demountable clamps 28 which are used to secure the demountable tire in place. The radially extending support 3| is best shown in section in Figure 4. The support 3| has at its in- 55 nor end a lower section 32 conforming in shape to that of the tire well of the detachable rim 21. As this well portion of the support 3| conforms to the shape of the well of the rim 21, it is obvious that this support 3| may be readily 70 attached and detached by the usual clamp bolts 29 which secure the usual air tire rim 21 in its position on the wheel 2|. The upper end of the support 3| is riveted or otherwise secured to the rim 30.

7s AsshowninFigures2 and 4, it isobvious that a plurality of lugs may be attached to the rim 8. in the usual manner as has always been the case with spade lug wheels of this type. --Lugs 33 in this instance are the angle iron type and are clamped to the rim 30 by clamp bolts 34. To prevent the lugs from turning' onthe rim ll a projection 35 engages the rim ll. The lugs 33 are alternately placed on oppositesides oi the rim 30 to produce a staggered effect. In order to prevent the rim 30 from turning on the wheel 10 2| notches 36 are formed on the supports 3| and conform to the shape of the clamp members 28. It is, therefore, obvious that when the clamps are securely fastened to the wheel 2| and wedged against the supports 3| this demountable type of steel traction rim is prevented from turning relative with respect to the wheel 2|., From this disclosure of this steel traction tire, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is apparent that a simple construction has been evolved wherein the steel traction tire may be readily substituted for the ordinary type of demountable air tires for tractors. With this type of steel tire there is no necessity for tire chains for the air tire 26, as this rim may be as readily mounted or demoimted as the air tire and has the advantage of increased traction over that of chains on an air tire.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 the type of steel rim previously described is shown with cast spade lugs, as best shown in Figure 5 and in the cross section of Figure 6. The modification here shown has a similar: rim section as disclosed in Figures 2 and 4, but has secured thereto cast lugs 31 positioned at spaced intervals about the rim 30'. The lug 31 has 35 cast integral with it a radially extending support portion 31 comparable to the support 3|, previously described. The support 31 has a lower portion 31" conforming to the well of the air tire rim 21. In order to form a complete bottom support for the rim 30' an additional cast member 38 is secured to the rim 30' and has a portion 38" conforming to the portion 31" of the lug 31. It is, therefore. evident that the two portions complete the tire lug and form a support from the rim where it is clamped to the wheel 2|. The portions 31" and 38" have notched portions 39 and 40 which conform to the shape of the clamps 28 and prevent the rim from turning about the wheel. Both portions forming the lug 31 are secured to the rim 30' by the bolt 4| or in any other suitable manner. The clamp 31 and the additional support 38 have notches or'lugs 42 and 43 for engaging the rim 3|I' to prevent the lugs from turning on the rim 30. As shown in Fig- 56 ures 5 and 6, the lugs 31 are alternated on the rim 30'. With this type of rim a meadow band or overtire 44 may be used and engages notched portions 45 in the lugs 31. The lugs 31 may also be provided with any other arrangement of 00 notches for various over-tires or meadow bands which is old in the art. With this type of spade lug rim the penetration of this type of rim is approximately equal to the driving radius of the air tire and the rim 30' has been placed approximately midway between the circumference of the wheel 2| and the driving radius of the lugs 31 so as to act as a support for the cast lugs 31. The lugs. have been shown as placed in alignment with the detachable clamps 28 for securing the air tire in place. It is obvious with this arrangement of lugs that intermediate lugs similar to the lugs .31 may be attached about the rim 30' in the usual manner. Bolt holes 46 are provided for attachment of additionaliugs. Alsowiththistypeoi'rimangle lusssuchasflmaybeattached.

lnthemodiiicationshowninrigure'lthe sametypeotrhnasdisclosedinl igures3and4 5 isused,butitisshownwithaspecial clamp bracketliwhereintheusualairtireflorspecial steel rim construction may be detachably connectedtoatractorwheelllsothattheairflre crsteeltiremaybepodtlonedinapiurality oiiaterailyspaccdintervalsoiknownadiustmeat. .This clamp construction 41 is not part of our invention, but is only disclosed to show theadaptabilityoioursteeltireconsiructiouto all! type of rim attachment construction. The member 41 may be positioned in four positions: theiirstbeingthatshowninl igure'hthesecond with the clamp 41 reversed to the position shown inrigure'l; andthethirdand fourth-positions with a clamp 41 placed on the opposite side or the clamping portion 4!, the positions being the-same as for the two previously described onthesideinwhichtheclampllisshownin Figure I. The attaching section B is so formed as to have two wedge shaped portions SI and ii on opposite sides. The wedge shaped portions SI and ii have their surfaces parallel with respect toeachother. Clampmemberl'lalsohasa "sections! similartothesectlonllbutwithth'e portions reversed with respect to each other. Thesectionilhaswedgeportions "and" on opposite sides comparable to the wedge portions it and ii of themember 49. It is evident. then, that, as the clamp bolt is drawn into its securing position the clamp member l'l tends torise'ormovewtwardiywithrespecttothe ,tion wheel is formed. into a demountabie steel tire. 'lherim andwheel constructionls similar to that previously disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 wherethereistheusualtractorwheel Ii having clamp bolts It for detachably mountingtheusual tractorairtire. Inthemodiilcationhereshown theiiatrimiiisotthesamediameterasthe usualtractorwheelotthistypeandhasdetachabiesupporting members 58 circumferentialiy spaced and inwardly extending from the rim II. The supportin members," aresq as-to conform with the clamp members 28 of the wheel 21. The lower portion 01' the supporting member! hasasection it coniorming tothewelloitheairtlrerimil andissimilar alsotothesectiondescribedinthemodiflcations asshowninriguresiando. Notchestlare to reventth'erhniromturningwithrespectto tbewheelil. Lugstl orastandardtypcmaybe holtedorotherwlsesecuredtotherhni'landthis providedtobeengasedbytheclampmembers It.

for the attachment 0! various other types oi lugs orextensionrims.

In the modification shown in Figures 10 and 11 there is shown the rear end of a truck of the six or eight wheel type and which may have either one or both oi the axles used for driving the truck. These figures may represent the front of a truck in which the wheels are steerable or driven. In certain weather conditions where the roads are covered with snow and ice or mud or in rough terrain over which trucks pass, as in military operations it is necessary at times to secure additional traction. As shown in Figure 10, a demountable steel tire has been evolved to replace the usual air tire of a truck. This demmmtable steel tire I is similar to that previously disclosed for the tractor tire, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. A support 83, however, for therimtlhasbeenmodifledasshowninl igure 11, to be used with the usual type of spoke end mounting iordual tires. The support 63 at its lower end is modified, as at 64, to conform to the shape of the air tire rim 65 and its detachable rim member 66, The steel tire 62 and the air tire 61 is clamped to the spoke end 68 of an artillery type oi wheel 69, as best shown in section in Figure 11. The type of mounting shown in Figure 11 is of a standard well-known type and is not the subject of the invention except as it shows the method of mounting our special tire to a spoke end mounting for wheel tires. Both the air tire and the steel tire are held in its clamped position by the wedge member Iii engaging the member 63 and-the rim 65. As the clamp bolt II is tightened the clamp 12. engages the support 63 which transmits the wedging action to the member 10 in order to secure the,

air tire 61 in place. A notched portion 13 is en gaged by the clamp 12 to prevent the steel tire from turning with respect to the wheel 69. Traction lugs I4 are secured in the usual manner to the rim 6! by clamp bolts I5. It is obvious that any other type of driving lugs may be secured to the rim 62. It is also obvious that dual steel tires may be attached as readily as the attachment of one air tire and an additional steel tire, as has just been described. It is also evident that with the llgs it removed, as the rim I2 is of substantially the same radius as the driving radius of the air tire 61, the steel rim 6! may be used as a safety rim for the front wheels of a truck in case 01' a puncture to one of the air tires, such as 81.

In the modifications shown in Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 means of attaching extension rim's to steel traction tires are disclosed, as has been previously disclosed in the modification of more 4. In certain types of traction wheels extension rims may be attached to the lugs, but as it is often necessary to travel on paved roads where laws prohibit, the use of lugs, it is evident thlt there is need of means for attaching extension rims to a wheel of the spade wheel type without the use of traction lugs. In the modification shown in Figure 12, there is disclosed a section 0! a steel rim similar to that disclosed in I igure 4. Inthis instance a support 15 is clamped steel rim It; For attaching extension rims ll to either one side of the steel rim I6 or, as disclosedinmgureliiwheretwo extensionrlms are shown attached to the steel tire, the extension rims II have supports" riveted or otherwise 15 tothempports uehetinte mlwiththeeu mm otmiekwheelsmaybeprovldedwiththesteel l withthlsmodlflcatiomasahuwninllgurelzlt mlnnlaced e ual tireorprovmon itevidehtthattheexteheiohi-ime yhea l ef ncn ywh elrmmtheateel readiiyattaehedtoanddetaeh tromtheateet merehas hobeendiscloeedvanweextireliasthesteelflreitselflsattachedtoccr n es teln ures o chlnsextendetached from the steel tire 2i. The extension flie l wfl nflmwhere lll'ims'l'lmaybesflltormdelnmgmm bearingnirtleekrequlred-ln'certelnneldconfrthecomtrmwill: tlon. Itls evideht,-thei-eroze.thethtm'ooth m-- e ref rred diment of the Invention is g hereindeacrlbedisfllocapableotcertelnother travellngonthehlshmsandthetlmmo b modlflcatlomylthoutdemrturetmmthelcope Mreadflyattachedwhenltisntomethe m flnedinthemlowlnszo htzlftorinthefleldelthertothelteelrhn'ltll chima nprevl dlscloeedor'ccnneetedtothe Wm ,cmmed 3 extension ri f 1. In a wheel structure capable of supporting the steel tires It by U-bolts II. The lugs ar lmortsextendingoutmdlytromthewheel and to prevented from turning by the horizontal portion amped individual! thereto y he aforesaid oi'the U-bolt 1 through it notch II in the m e having its adial thicksteel the IS. The lugs it are staggered, as shown m mmy Greater than its axlal thlckneae in Figure 13, and are provided with attaching held radially outmdly of the wheel at the outer u meaherorhttaohin extemiohrimelhsimiihrto m mzt in am the 85 the exteheiohtime n. Fol-quickly attaching the Periphml of the supports. nd a pmrims I! to the lugs It about the periphery the of much m mounted on the mlu l are provided t mm bdlts 2. In 8 11681 structure 88 specified in 018111]. 1, othuyattachedtothelugs I bythestudotpln ach upport p cified being relatively thick at to u. The ms at is provided with it slot at for the the and which the m mm a t and 40 bolt to swing through notch m the relatively thin at the other end where the ring tension rim is provided in alignment with the M1814- not hut tth nmm m 3.Inawheelstructureaslpeclfledlnclo1m1," prior to the out being drawn lgalnzt the extenfltemte traction was heme positioned toward Sionrlmtobesecm'edtothelug u. Themodfll- 'IPWWW c ns mlly cotioheihriwee isehd Hshowaslmpleatrucm It M or s m-rled ture for attachlngespadelugtothe M m, mlllllattheirundersldes thereof at op- However, it is evident that other mitoble strue- 0! -m and of turemaybeuse stentiitllythenmeouterdlameterestherlnm' rtieevidehtthhttheeehubeehdietiooedo 4-lnvhefl-mtmcamblwfholdinsa ohviouethettheeteeirih'iemehudieoioeedih Figure! may be used w-lthmt the traction lugs SO 0- UD EBA K. a for transportlllrmorthhttheeirtlre R- 

